Type-writing machine.



J. A. B. SMITH.

' TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICA'TON FILED OCT4, 1915.

r Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

I vim/EN R2 nally and intended JESSE A. B. SMITH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPEITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ACORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

'rrrnwnr'rms aaaonr'nn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ov. 2, T916.

Application filed October 4, 1915. Serial No. 53.8%.

To all whom .z't may concern;

Be it known that l, J nssn A. B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residin in Brooklyn borough, in the county of Kings city and State ofNew York, have invente certain new and useful Improvements inType-"Writing Machines,'of which the following is a specification.

This'invention relates principally to type-- writing machines, and moreespecially to machines of the general character shown in the patent to\Vernery & Smith, No. 1,132,- 055. Such machine is adapted for writingon a number of superposed continuous sheets, especially on webs foldedlongitudito have written lengths or sectionsthereof to be torn ofl' incross section from the body of the web, as for example, when the webcomprises a series of printed forms. In such workit is usual toemploy'ink-ribbons or carbon sheets interleaved with plies of the websfor making duplicate copies. After a section of we has been written, theplaten is shifted away from the usual feed-rollers to release the weband the interleaved carbon sheets, whereupon, by means of a carrier orholder the carbon sheets are drawn back along the web preparatory toprinting on the succeedof the web. The same carbon sheets are thus usedrepeatedly with the same web; The carbon-sheet-holder of a machine ofthis character is usually su orted on' a carriage which rides'on' a tracprovided on a frame or table attached to the platen carriage. The tableand carbon sheet-holder therefore partake oi the letterfeed and returnmovements ofthe platen carriage, while the carbon-sheet holder has alsoits own line-spacing and return movements on the table, but toward andaway from the platen. The holder for the carbon sheets ordinarilycomprises 'a set of fingers or clips to each of which the rear edge of acarbon sheet is secured. These fingers pro trude into theoppositely-directed folds of the web from opposite sides of thecarriage, and are preferably stepped one above the other to permit ofmovement of transfer material, without binding, when the same is shiftedbackwardly along the web. Hereina fter appear.

folds of the web, so as not to catch upon or tear the web.

It is sometimes desirable that the plies of the web, or at least some ofthe plies, he severed from one another in the machine, so that when awritten length or section of web is removed, the plies thereof arealready separated for distribution. h

It is an object of the invention to efiect such a separation of theplies of the web; and it is a further object of the invention to utilizethe fingers, which hold the carbon sheets, as the means by which theseparation is effected. For this purpose, in the referred form'of theinvention, the fingers, instead of terminating inside of the lines ofthe folds of the web, are extended across those lines, and are shaped attheir ends to form paper cutters. Commonly, to permit of easy separationof the plies of the web along correct lines, the web, as fed into themachine, is perforated along the lines of its folds. When the web isthus perforated, thecutters of the present invention may be bluntpaper-splitting devices. Thesevering of the plies by the are movedbackwardly along the web by sheets for the writing of a new section ofthe web. The cutting edges are therefore preferably inclined backwardlyand inwardly across the lines of the folds. As it may not be desired toseparate all of the plies, certain only of the fingers which hold thecarbon sheets need carry cuttefs.

Other features and advantages will here In the accompanying drawings,Eigure 1 is a perspective view of aconstruction emhodying the inventionas appliedto an Underwood typewriting machine, the parts being inposition to permit writing upon a work-piece." Fig. Qis -a fragmentaryperspective view of one of the clips or fingers for holding a sheet oftransfer material, the web-cutter or separator of the present inventionbeing shown on thefend of the clip. Fig. 3' is a view in cross-sectionthrough the fingers which hold the carbon sheets takes place when thefingers t ot'ore the holding fin ers have terminated at'the1r free endsinsi e of the lines of the web, showing the manner in which it isfolded, and showing one of the clips in position to out the'edges of theweb at one of the folds-thereof. F ig. 4 is a plan view of a fragment ofthe web; the cutting blades being also shown in position for cutting.

Referring particularly to F ig. 1, which Shows the general arrangementof the platen carriage, carbon-sheet-holder, and means for unfolding orstraightening the web to permit the carbon sheets to be retracted; theplaten is fixed to a platen shaft 11 journaled in arms 14 and 15 of aframe'fast to a rock shaft 12. The shaft 12 has hearings in the ends 13of the usual platen frame.

. The swinging frame is normally held in the Fig. 1 position forwriting, with the platen down against the usual front feed-rolls (notshown), and may be swimg from this position to its web-releasingposition by means of an arm 16 fast to the rock shaft. 12, and providedwith a handle 16. For locking the swinging frame in the. Fig. 1position,

the arm 16 carries a pin 17 adapted to, be enga ed by a hook 18pivotally mounted on the p aten frame end 13. A spring 19 yieldinglyholds the hook in operative position, and in returning the parts to suchposition,

the pin 17 cams back the hook so that the locking may be automatic. Atooth 200;) the hook, together with a pin 22 on the righthand end 13 ofthe platen frame, determines the return throw and normal position of theswinging frame.

The platen may berotated by the usual hand wheel 24, or the line-spaceratchet wheel 25,both fast to a short shaft 26 mounted to rotate in theleft-hand end 13 of the platen frame. When the platen is in printmgposition the shaft 26 is in alinement with the shaft 11. As is common inUnderwood typewriting machines, the ratchet wheel is actuated by a pawl27 on the usual slide 29 engaged by one arm of a line-space lever (notshown), on the carriage frame. A spring-actu ated detent engages theratchet wheel to hold the platen against rotary displacement. Thedriving connection between the shaft 26, whose axis is stationary, andthe platen shaft 11, which swings upwardly from normal position,consists of gears 35., 36 and 37. The gear 35 is fast on the shaft 20,the gear 36 is fast on the platen shaft, and of the same diameter andprovided with the same number of gear teeth as the gear 35, and the gear37 is looseon the axle 12, nrnllnd which the platen swings as an axis,the gear 37 having a face of sufficient width to mesh with both gears 35and 36. The driving connection between the shaft 26 and the platen isthus maintained in all positions of the platen.

in. the operation of removing a printed l'ength from the wehs and 111read ustmg the are preferably perforated to permit of easy detachment ofone ply from another.

The webs may be fed into the machine over the rear rail 38 of a table39, the side rails 40 of which are further connected and braced by crossbars 41 and 42, and, at the The webs are formed.

front of the machine, by a rod 43 journaled in bracket arms 44 in theplaten carriage, so that the table may be folded up when desired. Thetable is secured to the platen carriage to have letter-feed and returnmovement with the latter. The cross bar 41 carries a roller 45, whichrides and supports the table on a rail 46 carried by a framework 47secured to the main frame of the machine. As the web passes on to thetable, the folds or plies thereof are separated and guided by fingers48, securedto the machine at both sides thereof. The fingers 43 at oneside of the machine are staggered with re- .spect to those at the otherside, alternate fingers being secured to the same side of the machine,so that the fingers may project/into the oppositely directed fan-foldsof the web.

A pair of lguides 49 for the edges of the web gage 54, carried by thebar 55 on the paper shelf, and may then be severed by drawing the webagainst the cutter 51,. The cutter is shown as a plate secured to asleeve 56 on the shaft 12; to which sleeve is also secured a finger 57for rocking the cutter into engagement with the web when the latter isto be cut. The printing on the web is eifected by types 58 which may beoperated by the usual mechanism.

The carbon sheets, by means of the binding action thereon of the webs,due to the feed-rollers, are caused to advance with the webs at eachline-space turn of the platen; and, when the platen is shifted upwardly,.as before noted, the carbon sheets are released and may be drawn ba ckalong the webs from racemes edges to a traveling holder or carriage onthe table 39. This carriage 59 may comprise a body portion or platehaving a stepped block 60 at each side thereof. 61 to each of which onecarbon sheet may be attached, are secured by screws 62 to the steps 63of the blocks 60. The fingers 61, like the fingers 48, are staggeredupwardly, alternate fingers being secured to the same side of thecarriage 59, so that the oppositelyrdirected fan-folds of the web mayeach receive a finger.

Depending plates 64, secured to the ends of the carriage plate 59, eachcarry a pair of vertically disposed rollers 65, adapted to ride onhorizontal flanges 66 on the side rails 40 of the table 39. Otherhorizontal flanges 67 on the table side rails overlie the rollers andhold the carriage to the table.

-lEor throwing back the carriage to move the carbon sheets backwardlyalong I the web, there is attached to the left-hand block 60, a handle68.

The carbon-holding fingers 61 have heretofore terminated, at their freeends, inside of the margin or side edge of the web, so as not to catchupon the web. In the preferred form of the present invention, however,these fingers are convenientl used as means for cutting the Web at theolds thereof, so that the written length of the Web,'prior to itsdetachment from the rest of the web, may have certain, or all, of theplies thereof separated from one another. For this purpose, the fingers61, or such of them as lie between plies which are to be cut apart, havetheir free ends in the form of cutters 69, which cross the line of theside edge of the web. As already stated, when a section of web has beenwritten, the web is released from the feed-rollers and is drawn by handto the gage 54; and, while the web is so released and held by hand, thecarriage 59 is moved backwardly in order to position the carbon sheetsin the length of web next to be'written. This backward movement of thecarriage 59 causes the cutters 69 to sever the plies of the web for adistance therealong determined by the movement of the carriage inbringing t e carbon sheets to initial position. The cutting edges arepreferably inclined inwardly and backwardly, as shown in the drawings,so as to split the web without tearing, crumpling or displacing it. Whenthe web is fed into the machine with its edges already perforated, arelatively blunt cutting edge may be used. lln the form shown, thecutter consists of an inclined head 70 which is extended as a pin or lugon the end of the finger 61.

Fingers or clips Variations may be resorted to within the scope of theinvention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described mv invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, a platen, means for effecting a line-spacefeed to the platen of a work-piece folded on a line extending in thedirection of such feed, means for supporting and guiding the work-pieceas it is fed to the platen, and means at the line of said fold arrangedto sever, one from another, the plies of the work-piece.

2. In a typewriting machine, a platen, means for efiecting a line-spacefeed to the platen of a Work-piece folded on a line extending in thedirection of such feed, means for supporting and guiding the work-pieceas it is fed to the platen, and a knife movable relativel to thework-piece on the line of said fold or severing, one from another, theplies of the work-piece.

3. In a typewriting machine, a platen, means for effecting a line-spacefeed to the platen of a work-piece folded on a line extending in thedirection of such feed, means for supporting and guiding the work-pieceas it is fed to the laten, means interposed between the plies o theWork-piece for bold ing the plies apart, and a device carried by saidinterposed means for splitting the work-piece on the line of its fold.

4. In a typewriting machine, a platen, means for effecting a line-spacefeed to the platen of a work-piece folded on a line extending in thedirection of such feed, means for supporting and guiding the work-pieceas it is fed to the platen, and a knife movable backwa'rdly along thework-piece on the line of said fold for severing, one from another, theplies of the workpiece.

5. In a typewriting machine, a platen, means for effecting adine-spacefeed to the platen of a work-piece folded on a line extending in thedirection of such feed, a carriage for holding transfer material betweenthe plies of the work-piece during line-space feed of the transfermaterial with the workpiece and for shifting the transfer material atintervals backwardly along the workpiece, and means on said carriage forsevering, one from another, the plies of the workpiece.

6. In a typewriting machine, a platen, means for effecting a line-spacefeed to the platen of a work-piece folded on a line extending in thedirection of such feed. acarriage for holding transfer material betweenthe plies of the work-piece during line-space feed of the transfermaterial with the work-piece and for shifting the transfer material atintervals backwardly along the work-piece, and means on said carriagefor severing, one from another, the plies of the work-piece, when thecarriage shifts the transfer material backwardly.

7. In a 'typewritin machine, a platen, means for effecting adine-spacefeed to the platen of a work-piece folded on a line extending in thedirection of such feed, a clip for holding transferfinaterial betweenthe plies of the work-piece, a carriage for said clip movable toward theplaten to permit of line-space feed of the transfer materialwith thework-piece and movable away from the platen to reposition the transfergnaterial on the work-piece, and'means onaid clip for severing, one fromanother, the plies of the work-piece.

8. In a t%pewriting machine, a platen, means for e ecting a inc-spacefeed to'the platen of a Work-piece folded on a line extending in thedirection of such feed, a clip for holding transfer material between the"plies of the Work-piece, a carriage for said clip movable towardtheplaten to permit of line-space feed of the transfer material with theWork-piece and movable away from the platen to re-position the transfermaterial on the work-piece, and WES on said clip for severing, onefrom'another, theplies of the work-piece, during the repositioningmovement of the carriage.

9'. In a typewriting machine, a platen, means for effecting a line-spacefeed to the platen of a work-piece ,folded on a line extending in thedirection of such feed, a clip for holding transfer material between theplies of the work-piece, and a carriage for said clip movable toward theplaten to permit of line-space feed of the transfer material with thework-piece and movable away from the platen to re-position the transfermaterial on the work-piece, said clip being extended across the line ofthe fold of the work-piece to sever the work-piece at such fold. v

10. In a typewriting machine, a platen, means for effecting a line-spacefeed to the platen of a work-piece folded on a line extepding in thedirection of such feed, a clip for holding transfer material between theplies of the Work-piece, and a'carriage for said clip movable toward theplaten to permit ofline-spacefeed of the transfer material with thework-piece and movable away from the platen to reposition the transfermaterial on the workpiece, said clip carrying a paper cutter, the edgeofwhich is inclined backwardly and inwardly .across the line of thefold'of the work-piece to sever the latter at said fold during thebackward movement of the carriage.

11. In a typewriting machine, a platen,

means for effecting a line-space feed to the platen of a workpiecefolded 'zig-zag,or fan-folded, on lines extending in the direction ofsuch feed, clips for holding transfer platen, means for effectingletter-feed move-.

ment thereof, means for effecting line-space feed to the platen of awo'rk-piece folded on a line extending in the direction of suchline-space feed, a table connected to the platen to have letter-feedmovement therewith, a carriage on said table for holding transfermaterial between the plies of the Y work-piece, said carriage beingmovable toward the platen to permit of line-space feed of the transfermaterial with the workpiece and being movable away from the platen tore-position the transfer material on the work-piece, and means on thecarriage for severing, one from another, the plies of the work-piece.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of meansfor feeding to the platen a work-piece folded on a line extending in thedirection in which the work-piece is fed, means for holding trans.

fer material between the plies of the work piece to be advanced with thework-piece,-

and for shifting the transfer material at intervals backwardly along theWork-piece, and means operable automatically to sever, one from another,the plies of the workpiece concomitantly with the shifting of the Itransfer material b'ackwardly.

14. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of meansfor feeding to the platen a work-piece folded zigzag on lines extendingin the direction of such feed, and clips for holding sheets of transfermaterial between the plies of the work-piece, said clips protruding fromopposite sides of the work-piece into the oppositely directed foldsthereof, each of said clips carrying a severing-blade, the edge of whichis inclined backwardly and inwardly across the line of th'e'fold of thework-piece, whereby, during the backward moyementof the carriage, saidblades are effective to sever, one from another, the plies of thework-piece, and also apply to the said plies an outward pressure alongsaid folds, where- .by creasing, crumpling or displacement of thework-piece is prevented.

15, In a t-ypewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of meansprovid ng a web course for a work-piece or web, folded lengthwise, andarranged to be fed past the printing line at the platen, a web-severingwith respect to the direction of movement lhhfle, and iglegnilfgrefigetiing 8}) relatii e of the'blade relative to the web. movemento teaean tewe he i- V necfien lengthwise of the web for severing JESSE SmTH'5 the letter at said fold, said blade extending Witnesses:

dizgenelly across the fold with the inner W. O. Wnsrmmn thereof inadvance of the outer edge JULIUS Duexsmn.

